Apparatus for testing automatic train-control equipment



I NOV 4; T930.

0. F. STOLTZ E AL 7 1,780,726

APPARATUS FOR TESTING AUTOMATIC TRAIN CONTROL EQUIPMENT Filed June 2, 1928 [I R fir Fi q. Z.

INVENTORSZ v1 Q'VOW,

fatented Nov. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE:

G EL F. STOLTZ, or DELHI, OHIO, AND GEORGE W; FEELING, o -INnI NAroLIs,

' INDIANA, ASSIGNORS TO THE UNION SWITCH & sIGNAI. COMPANY, or swIssvnLE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF I ENNsYLvANIA g APPARATUS FOR TESTING AUTOMATIC TRAIN CONTR-OL EQUIPMENT,,

Application fi1ed June 2, 1928, Serial No. 282,457.

0111' invention, relates to apparatus for testing automatic train controlequipments, and particularly for testing the train-carried equipment of intermittent inductive train control systems of. the type involving a norin Fig. 1 and also embodying our invention. v Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference characters 1 and 1 designate the track rails of a railway along which traflic normally moves in the direction indicated by the arrow. In the trackway is a winding 4 located in such position that current is induced therein by the receiver of a train-carried equipment. This winding is placed on a magnetizable core 3, s0 that the assembly of the core and winding is similar to the inert roadside element ordinarily provided in train control systems of the type referred to hereinbefore. This assembly is designated as a whole by the reference character D. The winding 41: supplies current to a relay R which relay is therefore normally de-energized but becomes momentarily ener- V gized by the current induced in the winding 4: during the passage of an energized train-carried receiver. Located in advance of the winding i'is a track section AB electrically isolated by means of insulated joints 2, and connected across the rails of this section, is a relay R which relay functions as a stick relay. The pick-up circuit for relay R is from a battery C, through front contact 5 of relay R lower rail 1 of section A-B, winding of relay R and upper rail 1 of section A-B to battery C. It follows that during the momentary energization of relay R relay R becomes energized; a stick circuit for relay R then relay R and the relay then veating devices I and 1 The fact that the becomes GIOSQCL which ir uit is samba- .terv G,' h g11 front contact '6 f relay R raill of section A-B, winding ofrelay R and rail 1 of section A-B to battery C. Relay R therefore remains ener-' gized until the train enters section A-B' whereupon the wheels and axles of the train shunt the current from battery Q awayfrorn becomes de-energized. Y The reference character I indicates an indicating device, such as asignal lamp,

which may be located in the trackway where 'it is visible to the engineman. ,ence character I indicates another indi- The refercatingdevice, whichrmay be located in a despatchers office. The two indicatin-gdevices I and I are connected in multiple, and the circuit for these devices is controlled by front contact 7 of relay R so that these v devices are. bothlightedwhile relay R is energized and are extinguished when the relay is de-energizedr.

Apparatus embodying our inventionwill usually be located at apoint where the en- .75 gine crewis changed, and the purpose of the apparatus is to enable the relieving engineman on a through run to establish tohis own satisfaction that the train-carried equipment of the automatic train control systemtgo is in operating condition. 1 As the traincarriedreceiver passes over the. winding l,

it momentarily energizes relay-5, thereby energizing relay;R and lighting the indiindicating device I? is lighted, indicates to the engineman thatthereceiver of histrain-carv ried apparatus is energized, and the fact that the devicel is lighted givesthesame I information to the despatcher. j t 9 0 If the resistance of'relay R is very "low,

the winding 4 and magnetizable core?) will function in the same manner as an inert roads d'e element, the windmg of wh ch -1S on closed circuit, and twould notbe neces acknowledging action in order to prevent an application ofithe brakes. It is desirable, however, 1 that this acknowledging action should be required upon passing over-the sary for the engineer to perform the usual I mallyrleaenergized. When this section is winding 4 inorder to check the operation of the acknowledging portions of the apparatus, as well'a's' to check energization of the receiver; For this reason, the resistance of relayR is preferably relatively high, so

that the effect of the device D is the same as the effect of an inert roadside element the winding of which is 011' open circuitf The resultof thisis that the engineer must-pen.

form the acknowledging action upon passing over the device 'D in order to prevent an auto- 7 matic application of the brakes.

With the arrangement of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, relay Rflwhich isconnected with the rails of track section A-B, is norin automatic train control-territory, the re lay connected with the rails of the section must,'ofcourse, be normally energized, and

for such locations the modification shown 'in Fig. 2 may be used. In Fig.2, section ;A.-B is provided with the" usual track 'cir- 'cuit comprising asource ofv current 9 and Y a'track relay T. The pick-up circuit for relay includes contact 5 of relay R so that this relay becomes energized when relay R is momentarily energized due to the passage of an energized" train-carried recelver over. the

devicel). RelayR is provided with a stick circuit which p'assesfrom battery C, through J front contact 6 of'relay'R frontcontact 8 'of-track relay'T', and the winding of relay 'R to-battery C. "It follows that when relay I by contact? -Fig.'1. 0,

R? I becomes energized, it i remains energized until track relay T becomes de-energized due tothe entrance ofthe train into section.AB.

The control of the indicating devices, I and a of relay is the same as in One form plication. Although we bodying our. invention, it is understoodjthat "various changes and modifications may be madether'ein within thescope of the appendea claims'withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of our invention;

trolled by said stick relay.

My rm hereinshown'and; described only two forms of apparatus ema relay connected with'said winding and arranged to be momentarily energized by the current induced in the'winding by the train carried receiver, a stick relay having a pick: upgcircuit'controlled by a front contact of said first relay and a stick circuit excluding the front 'contactof the first relay but including afront contact of the stick circuit,

means. including a track circuit located in advance of said winding foriop'eningsaid stick circuit, and an indicating device con- 2. Roadside apparatus for testing the train carried equipment of an intermittent inductive train control system of the type involving a normally energizedtrain carried receiver, said apparatus comprising a windinglo'cated in the trackway in such" pof sition as to have current induced therein by the receiver during the passage of'a'train;

a relay connected with said windingrand' arranged to be momentarily energ'ized by the current induced in the winding by the train carried'receiver, a track section located in advance of saidfiwinding, ajtrack relay connected acrosstherails of said section, a source of current connected acrossthe rails of said section through a front contact of said first relay whereby. said track relay is normally de-energized-but" becomes ener-" gized when said firstrelay is energized, a branch around said front contact of said first relay includinglafront contact of said track'relayjwhe reby when thetrac k relay becomes energized it remains energized un-- til the trainenters saidctraclk sectiomand an indicating device controlled by said track relay. or In .tes'timony whereofwe a flix our'signaturesn v V CARLF. STOLTZK T Having thus describedour invention, what 'we claimisi I 2 :1;.;Boadside apparatus" for testing the ftrain carried equipment of an intermittent. V

"inductive train control system of the type V in volving a normally energized train car- 'ried receiver, said apparatus comprising a 'windinglocated in the tr'ackway in such position as to have currentinduced therein by the receiver during thepassageof a train, i

' GEORGE "W.YIFE RLING.

i no" 

